Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, known for his extreme prank videos and controversial livestreams, now finds himself behind bars in the Philippines with no quick release in sight. The streamer was arrested for harassing and robbing locals in the upscale district of Alabang during a livestream gone wrong.
According to reports, Vitaly may face an extraordinary two to three years in detention just waiting for his trial to begin. The charges stem from incidents where he allegedly harassed locals and ran over someone’s foot with a vehicle while creating content for his stream.
Five cases have been filed against Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy for his about "30 videos making a fool of Filipinos," according to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla. #ANCHeadstart
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 8, 2025
Related story: https://t.co/5EhwISmejy pic.twitter.com/15G61GGfPU
Local officials seem eager to make an example of him. The backlash over his treatment of locals has been intense, and with the current political climate focused on cracking down on foreign nationals who break the law, there’s little sympathy for the YouTuber.
Zdorovetskiy’s local cameraman may also face charges for enabling the live streams with authorities are still trying to identify and locate him.
What might have been a quick legal process in other countries has turned into a potential years-long ordeal for the content creator.
Former President Duterte’s controversial approach to law enforcement has left a lasting impact on how justice is administered in the country.
The situation points to the harsh realities of the Philippine justice system, notorious for its overcrowded prisons and extraordinarily long pretrial detentions.
If convicted after this lengthy pretrial detention, Vitaly could face additional years behind bars, potentially turning what began as streaming content into a life-altering legal nightmare.
